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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Charles Dunwoody" data-source="post: 5806149" data-attributes="member: 17927">You bring up a very good point. I think the default assumption for AD&D 1E is that a player, having read (or today watched) fantasy stories, would attempt to do all the things they knew about. Leap from above, charge violently, fight with torch and sword like Aragorn in the movie, charge on horseback etc.The player also knew whether his character had a lance or a sword or a wand. I don't believe that the vast majority of players trying D&D for the first time couldn't figure out how to do things whether as simple as I swing my sword or try to block that attack or pull a rug out from under someone. Players didn't need a list of okay things to do. There are, in fact, too many choices to list everything and it would have limited the player's options. So the DM had some rule guidelines and a mandate to judge other situations fairly.When a player first played AD&D he tried all of those things most likely and the DM explained what happened. If a player tried to charge on horseback and the DM had said you can't do that (no rules so no) it wouldn't have worked.But the rules were there, in the DMG. So the player was encouraged to keep thinking in character in combat. He could look at his character sheet for inspiration (for example the ranger is a great ambusher and the monk can kill by punching something's lungs out) but if something was missing, the player would describe his action.In turn, the DM learned how to apply the guidelines to more exotic requests. I've played D&D for over twenty years and the only things I've seen on both sides of the screen not be allowed were trying to make modern explosives and other modern devices. The rest of the table always sided with the DM on a judgment call like that. Otherwise, you did what you thought your hero would do or in a few cases could do based on class. I played D&D next in Ft. Wayne and D&D had gone back to this style. I had a sword, I didn't need rules on how a hero uses one. The rules I did need were things that were unique to my character. Otherwise, I just told my DM (a complete stranger) what I wanted to do and he made a judgment call. It worked great and I had a blast. I didn't need rules to protect me from the DM. We were adults working together to tell a group story and enjoy some challenges. If the DM wasn't up to snuff I would have tried to encourage him to get better as his game. D&D players/DMs really can help each other out and become more skilled. We don't need to be the players protected by rules protected from the mother-may-I DM meanie. At least not in my opinion or experience.Again, though, I respect the rights of others who do want to game that way. Just not my thing.</blockquote>

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